Mesh WiFi with BT smart hub

[xyz123]

Hi, I have BT broadband (fibre to cabinet) with BT smart hub. It works well but WiFi has become patchy as we r using it more. I have played with channels etc but not much improved. So am looking to get mesh WiFi.

Can I ask how it actually works. As in my router has a WiFi network already so does mesh add another WiFi network with different name? I am asking as from what I understand, BT smart hub cannot be tuned into just a modem. I maybe wrong but that's what I have found so far..

Thanks
J

[phil4]

Most of them replace your existing router - both the router bit and the wifi. If they retrain the router it's usually in bridge or modem only mode.

[sparkyhx]

Firstly one thing to understand - your router is actually a router and modem combined. The modem talks to your internet provider, the router directs all traffic round your internal network. Its important to understand the term router is used to refer to the combined device even though its technically incorrect

mesh come in two basic forms
- replace router bit - in which case plug the first node into one of your combined router ports and then you need to put the combined router into modem only mode (bridge)
- mesh only - in which case plug the first node into your existing combined router ports.. You also usually turn off your wifi on the combined router to avoid 'conflict'

Some internet providers lock down the combined router so you cannot put it into bridge mode (modem only), in which case you will only have the option 2 open to you.

I have the BT whole home disks (there are 3 versions now, and I have the middle ones) , these do NOT replace the routers.and are pretty much plug and play easy to set up and are stable. My internet provider at the time did not allow the router to be put into modem only mode.

Most mesh systems will work for you, just be aware of the two options so you don't get the wrong one.

Edited by sparkyhx on Tuesday 15th December 14:20

[xyz123]

sparkyhx said:

Firstly one thing to understand - your router is actually a router and modem combined. The modem talks to your internet provider, the router directs all traffic round your internal network. Its important to understand the term router is used to refer to the combined device even though its technically incorrect

mesh come in two basic forms
- replace router bit - in which case plug the first node into one of your combined router ports and then you need to put the combined router into modem only mode (bridge)
- mesh only - in which case plug the first node into your existing combined router ports.. You also usually turn off your wifi on the combined router to avoid 'conflict'

Some internet providers lock down the combined router so you cannot put it into bridge mode (modem only), in which case you will only have the option 2 open to you.

I have the BT whole home disks (there are 3 versions now, and I have the middle ones) , these do NOT replace the routers.and are pretty much plug and play easy to set up and are stable.

Most mesh systems will work for you, just be aware of the two options so you don't get the wrong one.

Thanks for detailed explanation. I knew some of it but you have explained lot more clearly .

I didn't realize that i can turn wifi off without switching smart hub to modem only mode.

i will look for some mesh wifi routers. currently looking at tp-link M5 system.

[dmsims]

Google/Nest Wifi only supports 1 node in bridge mode - so watch out for that

Orbi, Deco, Tenda all work well

[megaphone]

Get hold of one of the white Openreach modems and use that, they are only good for 100mb but will be fine for FTTC. Then use the router functions on the mesh.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-Openreach-Fibre-Mode...

[anxious_ant]

I use BT’s whole home Wi-fi mesh discs with my Smart Hub and it works a treat.

[sparkyhx]

xyz123 said:

sparkyhx said:

Firstly one thing to understand - your router is actually a router and modem combined. The modem talks to your internet provider, the router directs all traffic round your internal network. Its important to understand the term router is used to refer to the combined device even though its technically incorrect

mesh come in two basic forms
- replace router bit - in which case plug the first node into one of your combined router ports and then you need to put the combined router into modem only mode (bridge)
- mesh only - in which case plug the first node into your existing combined router ports.. You also usually turn off your wifi on the combined router to avoid 'conflict'

Some internet providers lock down the combined router so you cannot put it into bridge mode (modem only), in which case you will only have the option 2 open to you.

I have the BT whole home disks (there are 3 versions now, and I have the middle ones) , these do NOT replace the routers.and are pretty much plug and play easy to set up and are stable.

Most mesh systems will work for you, just be aware of the two options so you don't get the wrong one.

Thanks for detailed explanation. I knew some of it but you have explained lot more clearly .

I didn't realize that i can turn wifi off without switching smart hub to modem only mode.

i will look for some mesh wifi routers. currently looking at tp-link M5 system.

My pleasure, its stuff I didn;t quite understand at first. especially the confusing referral to 'router' for two different things. someone I know got the small 4 disk set up from BT and he had no problem setting up and getting signal.all over his house. I believe the 3 disk pack is about £75 at the moment which is a billy bargain

[Riley Blue]

sparkyhx said:

My pleasure, its stuff I didn;t quite understand at first. especially the confusing referral to 'router' for two different things. someone I know got the small 4 disk set up from BT and he had no problem setting up and getting signal.all over his house. I believe the 3 disk pack is about £75 at the moment which is a billy bargain

I did exactly that last week using the three mini-disc pack. The difference around the house is quite noticeable especially up on the second floor furthest from the hub which is in the kitchen. Well worth £75.

[ChrisG C2S]

bit of a thread resurrection here!

Can the BT Mesh discs be added to a BT smart hub 2 or do they need to replace it?

[sgrimshaw]

ChrisG C2S said:

bit of a thread resurrection here!

Can the BT Mesh discs be added to a BT smart hub 2 or do they need to replace it?

You would be adding to the Smart Hub.

It will still act as a modem and router, the mesh discs will provide the wi-fi. You'll turn off wi-fi on the Smart Hub

Edited by sgrimshaw on Tuesday 5th January 14:57

[KingofKong]

I’ve got the Smart Hub 2, the hub radio is turned off, a Netgear Orbi plugged into the BT router and Orbi satellites spread through the house with no issues at all.

[ChrisG C2S]

sgrimshaw said:

You would be adding to the Smart Hub.

It will still act as a modem and router, the mesh discs will provide the wi-fi. You'll turn off wi-fi on the Smart Hub

Edited by sgrimshaw on Tuesday 5th January 14:57

KingofKong said:

I’ve got the Smart Hub 2, the hub radio is turned off, a Netgear Orbi plugged into the BT router and Orbi satellites spread through the house with no issues at all.

Cheers, that's what I thought

[PGM]

I'm also wondering about WiFi with what hub 2.

We are in an old house with thick solid walls and WiFi is patchy at the extents.

We also have an additional problem where devices ask for IP addresses like 10.10.10.x rather than 192.168.1.x and connect without internet. I have to static IP on the devices to get them to go on reliably. This is not possible with some like my harmony remote control hubs. Also a nightmare when guests are at the house, may have them again one day!

I tried to put another WiFi router into the back of the smart hub 2, this did improve WiFi but still suffer with the IP problem sometimes.

[KingofKong]

PGM said:

I'm also wondering about WiFi with what hub 2.

We are in an old house with thick solid walls and WiFi is patchy at the extents.

We also have an additional problem where devices ask for IP addresses like 10.10.10.x rather than 192.168.1.x and connect without internet. I have to static IP on the devices to get them to go on reliably. This is not possible with some like my harmony remote control hubs. Also a nightmare when guests are at the house, may have them again one day!

I tried to put another WiFi router into the back of the smart hub 2, this did improve WiFi but still suffer with the IP problem sometimes.

My Smart Hub does the modem and dhcp router side of things, the Orbi is set to AP mode and all my devices get 192.168.x.x ip’s.

I take an Ethernet cable from one of the Smart Hub ports into an unmanaged Netgear switch and then another cable from the switch into the Wan port on the Orbi.

You don’t want both devices acting as routers or ap’s.

It all gets a little technical but the above works well for me over the last 2 or 3 years.

[PF62]

KingofKong said:

I’ve got the Smart Hub 2, the hub radio is turned off

Unless you have opted out of BT WiFi it isn't. Only your private WiFi network is turned off, the public network which people can connect to is still active.

[KingofKong]

PF62 said:

Unless you have opted out of BT WiFi it isn't. Only your private WiFi network is turned off, the public network which people can connect to is still active.

I have opted out, I should have said that and it doesn’t stop me from using BT Openzone when I’m out and about either which I thought it did?

[Riff Raff]

ChrisG C2S said:

bit of a thread resurrection here!

Can the BT Mesh discs be added to a BT smart hub 2 or do they need to replace it?

I have the black ‘complete wifi’ discs with a Smart hub 2. The first disc in the system is in the hub itself: you retain the original network name and don’t have to switch anything off.

[ThriftShift]

I currently have a fibre modem on the wall within my house, and connected to it is a BT Smart hub, however I quite fancy the Nest Wi-Fi system. Would I have to add the Nest system on top of my current setup or would the Nest Wi-Fi router take the place of the Smart hub? Sorry to ask my own question on this topic, it just seemed relevant

Edited by ThriftShift on Tuesday 5th January 22:24

[dmsims]

ThriftShift said:

I currently have a fibre modem on the wall within my house, and connected to it is a BT Smart hub, however I quite fancy the Nest Wi-Fi system. Would I have to add the Nest system on top of my current setup or would the Nest Wi-Fi router take the place of the Smart hub? Sorry to ask my own question on this topic, it just seemed relevant

Edited by ThriftShift on Tuesday 5th January 22:24

Depends on exactly which st Hub you have

Most recent ones cannot be put into modem mode which is problem if you want to use Nest as they only support 1 node in bridge mode

There are much better/cheaper alternatives to Nest

Tenda/Deco/Orbi